Ex-World champ Havelock to ride for Comets
Last updated 19:57, Friday, 01 August 2008
Former world champion Gary Havelock will be standing-in as Workington’s number one on Saturday night.
The Comets take-on Premier League leaders Somerset Rebels in a tasty first-versus-third clash which is being labelled as speedway’s match of the week.
Havelock, the Redcar Bears captain, has been booked as a guest for Daniel Nermark who is currently back home in Sweden recuperating from a broken tibia – ironically at Redcar last Thursday.
On his last visit to Workington on July 5 Havelock was in sensational form, scoring four straight wins, including one as a tactical ride as the Bears almost came from an impossible position to beat the Comets.
He could only manage a third in his last race to finish with 16 points as Workington’s edfged home 49-44 after the final heat decider.
Comets team manager Ian Thomas said: “He was in brilliant form that night and we hope he can continue in similar vein against the Rebels.
“I’ve no doubt in my own mind that this is the biggest threat to our unbeaten home record that we have faced so far. I was very impressed with the Somerset four on Saturday at Derwent Park and they have Emil Kramer back in the side at the week-end.
“It was a toss-up at the time whether I signed Emil or Kauko Nieminen but I went for the Finn in the end and have never regretted it.”
Havelock won’t be the only new face in the Workington side against the Rebels, because they have to bring in a rider for Tomi Reima.
Thomas explained: “The 28 day facility we had for Tomi ends on Friday and although I asked for an extension that’s been turned down by the BSPA management committee.
“We can only replace him now with a Coneference League rider who hasn’t attained a Premier League average. I wasa going to book Buxton’s Ben Taylor until I found out that Somerset have got him.”
German Matthias Kröger has a continental commitment which had been agreed upon before he signed for Somerset back in May. As his absence is not for an official FIM meeting, the only ‘facility’ open to the Rebels is the inclusion of a Conference League rider in Kröger’s place, and Buxton’s Ben Taylor will be his replacement.
Under the new August averages Kröger has moved back into the main body of the team, and so Taylor will don the number two race jacket against the Comets in his place.
Workington will use 21-year-old Gary Beaton, a Glasgow Tigers asset who is riding in the Conference for Redcar Cubs.
“His uncle Bobby Beaton used to ride for me at both Hull and Newcastle so I’m hoping some of the family technique has rubbed off on him,” said Thomas.
